Published on April 21, 2010
Volunteers Make A Difference:
Volunteer Week is April 19-23
Rogue Valley Medical Center (RVMC) and Three Rivers Community Hospital (TRCH) will be recognizing their volunteers during National Volunteer Week, April 19 through 23.
More than 500 volunteers serve at both hospitals and each year they give nearly 100,000 hours of their time and talent, and contribute over $120,000 toward the purchase of needed equipment, and provide valuable scholarships for those entering healthcare careers.
In 2009, the RVMC Auxiliary had 282 volunteers donating 48,548 hours of work and 44 junior volunteers donating 1,335 hours. There were 24 dog handlers who provided 433 hours of pet therapy. At TRCH there were 211 volunteers donating 46,623 hours of work, 44 junior volunteers donating 1,255 hours of work, and 9 dog handlers who provided 13 hours of pet therapy.
"Our volunteers make a difference every day they are here. They not only donate funds to the hospitals, but their efforts free up clinical staff so nurses can spend more of their valuable time at the bedside," said Karin Guy, Director of Volunteer Services.
Volunteers act as greeters, transport patients, provide pet therapy, help in the TRCH ED Express, sew pillows and stockings for heart patients and babies, and they operate the gift shops at both hospitals.
For example, The Gift Shop at RVMC, funded and operated by the RVMC Auxiliary, is one of the last remaining local gift shops in Medford. A portion of its sales goes to RVMC. Each year it can amount to nearly $70,000. For the last two years, through the gift shop revenue, the RVMC Auxiliary donated $100,000 to the Tomotherapy program. Some 33 volunteers work in the RVMC gift shop, with a total of 4,465 volunteer hours provided in the last year. "Their hard work is a great benefit to the hospital," said Guy.
In addition, the Auxiliary gives about $15-20,000 to cover wish list items that departments request each year. This can include clothing for people in need, educational materials for diabetes and nursing, to a bassinette for the neonatal intensive care unit.
The gift shop at TRCH, operated by the TRCH Auxiliary, raised over $40,000 last year. It used those funds to support many departments at the hospital.
The shops are open Monday through Friday, and every day dedicated and talented volunteers are on duty. They help customers find gifts for newborns, find treasure for loved ones, help choose and deliver flowers to the patient's room, and help the employees who love to shop there.
Though 500 volunteers may sound like a lot, it's not enough to accomplish all the important work the volunteers do, added Guy. "We are always in need of more volunteers," she said.
To learn how you can volunteer, call 541-789-5875.